Resident urges city focus on youth homelessness, job and housing supports

Gerald Gregory used public comment to describe what he called a growing problem of youth homelessness and violence and urged nonpunitive responses such as mentoring, jobs and housing supports.

Gregory said many teenagers are "runaways from facilities or other homes" and that some youths are living in houses and trying to "make rent" through informal means. "We need to develop a system where they got jobs," he said, adding that separating children from parents was not the right solution and that community mentoring should be part of the response. He offered to work with the police and city officials to find solutions and emphasized the need for stable housing and employment pathways for teens.

The comment drew thanks from the council president; no staff report or formal council action on the issue was recorded in the meeting minutes.